Judy Schavrien, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaMember Since October 2008Artist Statement I am a mystic and a pragmatist; so my visual works range from paintings in which light takes birth from a pregnant darkness to activist photos of street people and peace summits. As an artist, I was featured on Imagekind during the Christmas holidays; in a cover article for On The Issues, an international journal; and I also received a nomination for Oakland (CA) Artist of the Year. When I paint portraits I like to imagine that my decades giving psychotherapy join forces with the years in the studio. The faces must speak. At an exhibit, the greatest compliment I received was this: "You remind me that I have a soul."

As to the mysticism, I studied and practised Dzogchen, a kind of Tibetan Zen, with Sogyal Rinpoche, the laughing lama. It stood me in good stead when I was shot in a mugging. The bullet imploded my cheek; worse, it left my personality in shards. The need to heal impelled me to do what I had been postponing--walk this astonishing planet before I one day leave it. Mother planet brought me back to this life. I hope She has good things in store for you as well!